Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Join In the Mazurka Marathon!!

Well that was sweet. I'm literally blushing. I played my recital piece at about half tempo, and every time I think about it I get embarrassed. I guess one can get away with that playing something nobody knows well....

Thanks very much for the encouragement. I'll see what I can do! But after hearing your Revolutionary Etude....

Edit: I'm reminded of a time in jr. high school. My best friend was the accompanist for the chorus, and he was quite talented. Since I played, I turned pages for him. For some reason, the director decided to ask me to accompany one of the songs. I practiced and rehearsed with the chorus. But I knew that my friend could play it better than I could. So I backed out. And turned pages. Not one of my more shining moments, I'm afraid...

rustyfingers, I would feel even more nervous turning pages than playing myself - in case I let the pianist down! I was at a recital at the Chopin Society here in London earlier this year, and the pianist was playing something by Weber. His wife was the page-turner. At a really fast passage (where the pages seemed to need turning every two seconds) she lost her place, and he had to do it himself in the midst of a virtuosic run. She looked *so* abashed I felt really sorry for her.

Being page turning is not a shining momonent, more like "somebody has to do it", but I will say it's a job for real enthusiasts - no pay, no honour and glory, just the joy of taking a tiny little part in music.

I have turned pages and pulling registers for our organist a few times in concerts. Last time on Sunday and I'm ashamed beacause he played a flawless and very musical Rheinberger Sonata and the only slip that could be heard was me being a tiny bit too late pulling the Trumpet...

Still it's always a pleasure to assist a great musician !

R

Ragnhild, I bet nobody but you and the organist even noticed.

I agree with you both that page turning is important and can be difficult. I didn't really meant to underestimate page turners.

I should have made it clear when I said "Not one of my more shining moments" I actually meant my cowardice in backing out, not the fact that I turned pages!

Pulling the Trumpet a bit too late is still better than a bit too early.

It's funny to think of Chopin being an organist, isn't it. He played the organ in his local Catholic Church in Warsaw, and also at the funeral of his friend the tenor Nourrit in Marseilles.

I think the organ is a great way of practising really extreme legato.

Can I push my 33/1 back to the second recital? Learning 25/11 and 3 other Chopin pieces is a little bit of overload.

Of course you can, Playadom.

So - the latest list looks like this:

[No number after the person's name indicates the mazurka is chosen for the 1st "Recital" on March 1, 2008. A number (2) and/or (3) indicates that mazurka has been chosen for the second and third recital. October 17, 2008 and March 1, 2009 (respectively).]

Backup performers: Theowne, Yuri


6/1- PianoAgain
6/3 - Balakirev


7/1 - Peyton (2)
7/2 - gabytu (2)
7/3 - Frycek
7/4 - Mistaya (3)
7/5 - Piano&Violin (2)


17/1 - Rustyfingers (3)
17/2 - Rustyfingers (backup Yuri)
17/3 - Rustyfingers (2)
17/4 - Peyton

24/2 - Theowne
24/3 - Pianolina


30/1 - Schubertian
30/2 - Gabtytu
30/3 - Schubertian (2)
30/4 - Schubertian (3)

33/1 - Piano&Violin (3)
33/2 - Playadom (2)
33/3 - Chardonnay
33/4 - Piano&Violin


41/1 - Ragnhild (E minor)
41/2 - Balakirev (B Major) (2)
41/3 - Ragnhild (Ab Major) (2)
41/4 - Ragnhild (C# minor) (3)

50/2 - Frycek (3)
50/3 - Playadom* (1 along with 33/2)

63/1 - Gerg
63/2 - Mistaya (2)
63/3 - Frycek (2)

67/2 - Nancy333
67/3 - Cruiser (backup Yuri)
67/4 - Household


68/1- Balakirev (3)
68/2 - Mistaya
68/3 - Sleepingcats
68/4 - Bassio

Love to all Mazurkathoners - Mary-Rose

How is everyone enjoying their Mazurkas? Is this a new genre for some of you? Do you find them addictive?

This is the first time I've played one in a long long time, and I really am enjoying it. I admit that had it not been for this recital, I may have delayed exploring these (so much music, so little time!). But the rhythms are so catchy that I will definitely try others after this. (Plus, they're relatively short, which is sometimes good psychologically!)

It's certainly not new for listening, but this is the first time I've played a Mazurka. I find the one I'm playing to be quite addictive.

Hey, you're quoting gerg! That's cool

It makes a great sig.

OK, time for a bump and progress report. I've fallen in love with mine. How about you?

Not fallen in love, I think.
41.1 is a weird little piece and I'm not att all sure how to play it to make it mine, but still make it sound like a Mazurka...

Ragnhild

Mary-Rose,

it's my first Chopin piece, and it's the most difficult one I'm doing so far. I love Chopin music, and I'm doing a bit of background reading. For me, the mazurka is clearly a huge next step. My teacher had chosen it before I joined the marathon, so I should be fine with it, and I do enjoy the teacher's help.

I'm sort of flailing away and not making much progress. Playable but slow and messy. I started with a public domain score which I had trouble reading, so I've switched editions, and am trying to replace the fingering I was using with the better suggestions in my new edition.

I figure I'll really buckle down on it after the holiday piano bar.

So you want a progress report. Hmmm. Well I am working on my Mazurka. Love em, but not sure I am doing justice to them. I have a CD with them and the pianist plays them much much faster than I do. When I speed up, I make mistakes, so will stick to the slow playing. Maybe by March I will have them somewhat up to tempo. Gaby Tu

gabytu, I think it's more important to stay in the correct rhythm than to play fast.

rustyfingers- what edition do you have now? I really think it's worth buying the better editions - I have noticed actual wrong notes in public domain scores. When you consider how much effort and time you put in, you might as well invest in a proper edition (and even they aren't perfect).

Hi Mary Rose,

I splurged and got the Henle edition. My eyes are thanking me for it!

-rf